Exercise Physiology and Applied Movement Analysis Flashcards
Outline the effect of energy balance on performance
• Energy balance is achieved when the energy we consume matches the energy we expend during exercise (energy intake = energy expenditure)
• If we over-consume food compared to the energy we expend (calorie surplus) we achieve positive energy balance
• If we under-consume food compared to the energy we expend (calorie deficit) we achieve negative energy balance
• If performers don’t meet energy demands during training periods it can result in:
-Muscle atrophy
-Decreased intensity and duration of performance
-Slow recovery rates
-Increased risk of injury, fatigue and illness
• So weight-loss plans should be scheduled into training plans away from heavy training/competition
Outline the effect of optimum weight on performance
• Different sports require differing optimal weights and manipulation of diet can be used to achieve this
• This can be applied within sports, e.g. boxers trying to make a weight category (increasing/decreasing weight), a sumo wrestler trying to be as heavy as possible or a cyclist trying to be light to find an optimal power:weight ratio
Define Energy
The ability to perform work, measured in Joules (4.18J= 1 calorie)
Explain how calorie requirements are calculated
BMR + METs + Thermic effect = Total caloric req.
• BMR = Basal metabolic rate; the ratio of a performers working metabolic rate relative to their resting metabolic rate
• METs (metabolic equivalent tasks) calculate the energy expenditure of a physical activity, using oxygen per unit of body weight per minute to measure exercise intensity (ml/O2/kg/min)
• Thermic effect = Energy required to eat, digest and absorb food
Identify the factors affect total caloric requirement of an individual
• Age
• Gender
• Size
• Environment
• Lifestyle
• Metabolic rate
Define hydration
Where the body has the correct amount of water in cells, tissues and organs to function correctly
Identify the roles of water in the body
• Regulates body temperature, lubricates joints and prevents dehydration
• 55% of the blood is plasma of which 80% is water, this blood transports nutrients providing energy
How much fluid should be consumed during exercise
For every 1kg of body mass lost during exercise, 800ml-1litre of fluid should be consumed; an athlete must replace all fluids lost during performance
Identify the symptoms of dehydration
• Decreased heart regulation, cognitive function and skill level
• Increased heart rate, blood viscosity and therefore fatigue
Explain the consequences of a loss of electrolytes (salt and minerals) through sweat
• Fatigue and cramping
• Losing 2% of bodyweight in sweat can cause up to a 30% decrease in performance
Define osmolality (specifically for sports drinks)
A measure of the number of particles in a solution. In a sports drink, these particles will be carbohydrates, electrolytes and water
Outline different types of sports drinks
• Hypotonic solutions (4% glucose):
-Glucose osmolality is lower than in the blood
stream, so replaces fluids lost by sweating,
providing small amounts of glucose for energy.
-Used by athletes for hydration without energy
boosts such as jockeys and gymnasts
• Isotonic solutions (5-8% glucose):
-Glucose osmolality is the same as in the
bloodstream, so it’s absorbed at the same rate
as water and is quick to rehydrate and provide
energy.
-Used by middle to long distance athletes and
games players
• Hypertonic solutions (8%+ glucose):
-Glucose osmolality is higher than the
bloodstream so they’re absorbed slower than
water, consumed pre or post exercise
-Predominately consumed post exercise to
maximise glycogen replenishment (fluid
replenishment is secondary)
Define contemporary supplements and identify examples used by athletes
• Products used to enhance sporting performance. When considering a balanced diet, we must be aware of dietary supplements (legal or illegal) used by athletes that provide additional nutrients to improve health and well-being or enhance sporting performance, for example:
• Creatine
• Whey Protein
• Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs)
• Caffeine
• Herbal remedies
• Cherry juice
• Nitrates
• Sodium bicarbonate
Outline and evaluate creatine as a contemporary supplement
• A compound the body makes naturally that supplies energy for muscle contraction, it can also be used as a supplement to increase performance by increasing phosphocreatine stored in the muscles
+ PC’s used to fuel the ATP-PC system which
provides energy, increasing creatine in muscles
allows this energy system to last longer and
perform at a higher intensity for longer
+ Helps improve recovery times
-Muscle cramps, diarrhoea, water retention,
bloating, vomiting as it makes muscles retain
more water
-Hinders aerobic performance
-Mixed evidence to show the benefits
Outline and evaluate Whey protein and BCAAs as contemporary supplements
• Powders containing a mixture of protein
+ Increase protein in diet as athletes need more
protein than untrained people for muscle
hypertrophy and repair following hard training
-Stomach pains (high dosage), bloating, diarrhoea
-Argued the body doesn’t need more protein and
it’s not stored, and so is unnecessary
Outline and evaluate caffeine as a contemporary supplement
• Naturally occurring stimulant
+ Increases mental alertness and reduces fatigue
and an athletes perceived effort
+ Improves metabolisation of fatty acids in the
body, using fats as an energy source and
allowing carbohydrates to be used later, sparing
muscle glycogen stores (more energy for longer)
+ 3mg of caffeine per kg of bodyweight or more
showed biggest increase in performance
-Dehydration, insomnia, muscle/stomach cramps,
vomiting, irregular heartbeat, diarrhoea
-Loss of fine motor control
-Against the rules in high quantities
Outline herbal remedies as contemporary supplements, providing examples
• Derived from plant extracts and are lady of the practice of homeopathy, coming in tablets, oils, creams and liquids, for example:
• Ginseng boosts energy and Vo2 max and was used by Chinese endurance athletes in the 1990s
• Glucosamine reduces joint inflammation and stiffness
• Arnica reduces inflammation, bruising and pain
• Camomile reduces stress and promotes sleep and tissue repair
Outline cherry juice as a contemporary supplement
High levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which can decrease pain when recovering from injury and speed up recovery following exercise which can be beneficial to both strength and endurance performers
Outline nitrates as a contemporary supplement
• Found in beetroot juice and other vegetables
• Relatively new supplement, nitrate refers to nitrate oxide and helps blood flow, increasing the duration and intensity of the sport being sustained
Outline sodium bicarbonate as a contemporary supplement
• Antacid taken before sport
• Increases buffering capacity of the blood so it can neutralise negative effects of lactic acid/hydrogen ions produced in muscles during high intensity activity (delays fatigue)
Identify strategies of optimal food intake for a strength athlete (including pre- and post-physical activity)
• General diet includes 5-6 meals a day including:
• 30% (1.8g/kg bodyweight) lean protein for
muscle growth and repair
• Complex carbohydrates to release energy
slowly, control blood glucose levels and
reduce fat storage
• Limited fat intake for energy and hormone
production
• Pre-physical activity: Small meal with equal
quantities of high GI carbs and protein 20-60
minutes before
• Post-physical activity: High GI carbs and protein
to be digested as soon as possible after exercise
(within 2 hours) to replace glycogen stores and
promote protein synthesis for muscle/strength
gain
Identify strategies of optimal food intake for a endurance athlete pre-, during and post-physical activity
• Pre-physical activity:
• Slow digesting carbohydrate meal 3 hours
before (1.4g/kg bodyweight) or low GI
carbohydrates to maximise glycogen stores
• Simple carbs and high GI foods half hour
before to top up glycogen stores and maintain
blood glucose levels
• During physical activity (longer than 1 hour):
small amounts (30/60g) of fast digesting
carbohydrates to maintain blood glucose and
saturate muscle glycogen stores
• Post-physical activity: 1-1.5g per kg of
bodyweight of carbohydrates per hour within
30min of the event, every 2hours for the next 6
hours. Moderate to fast digesting carbohydrates
promote faster recovery
Outline the window of opportunity as a strategy for optimal food intake
• After exercise, our muscles are primed to accept nutrition that stimulates muscle repair, growth and strength
• Within the first 30 minutes an athlete should aim to consume high GI carbohydrates to initiate replenishment of glycogen stores and maintain electrolyte balance
• While protein synthesis persists for at least 48 hours after exercise, it’s most important to consume lost exercise nutrition immediately (within 2 hours)
• Failing to provide lost-exercise nutrition fast enough decreases muscle glycogen storage and protein synthesis, even if it’s only by a few hours
Outline and evaluate glycogen loading as a strategy for optimal food intake
• Athletes alter their carbohydrate intake in the week before an event to maximise glycogen stores in the muscles and liver, split into three phases:
• Depletion phase (first 3-4 days): Low carb diet
and continuation of exercise
• Repletion phase: Taper training and eat a high
carb diet
• Super-compensation phase (days 5-7): Due to
biological stress, reduction in carb stores due to
training when replenishing, the body’s forced to
store more glycogen
+ Increased glycogen stores
+ Increased endurance capacity: delays fatigue
and increases time to exhaustion by up to 30%
-Hypoglycaemia and poor recovery rates in the
depletion phase
-Lethargy and irritability, affects mental
preparation
- Increased injury risk and gastrointestinal
problems